“Their marketing strategy had to be changed to the young people. That's who buys the beer.”– Felix Sabates

For many of us, email marketing is a love-hate relationship. I probably delete as much of it as anyone. But email marketing is an effective modern flavor of direct marketing with a few extra rules. We still design it, produce it, send it out and measure the response. What is new is how it is delivered and the limited time anyone gives it... providing it gets past the spam filters.

It isn't too difficult to produce and send an email marketing "blast" (eblast) using Outlook, as long as you don't have a very big list. I can create specialized templates for Outlook if you want to use it for your eblasts. I have several clients who do just that. i create a custom pre-designed template with areas their national sales staffs can fill out with information pertaining to their areas or product lines and send to their specific customer lists. This way the corporate look is maintained, but the salesforce can deliver messages specific to their territory. Pretty cool.

However, you need to understand most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast and Verizon have low tolerance for too many emails sent from a single account, so larger lists require either special software, your own server or an online service like Constant Contact, iContact, etc.

These template services allow you to add your own images and text but they always end up looking like templates, unless you spend a lot tof time modifying them. That is not necessarily bad, but I've yet to see a prefab layout do justice to a focused eblast. For maximum impact and response, you will want a custom design. Fortunately, almost all of the online services will accept custom designs if they are properly created and you know where to upload your code on the online service site.

Media and tradeshows often offer eblast services where a very customized design is accepted, but to very tight specifications for physical size, data size and "flavor" of HTML. The HTML we use for modern web design is rarely acceptable. Why? Because email applications on PCs simply cannot render modern HTML into the email page properly. So it is good to have someone who knows all the HTML "flavors" and how to use them to keep the design intact and the file size below the specs.

Custom eblasts are one of my specialties. I combine my many years of direct marketing experience, design and layout skills, coding knowledge, and graphic optimization to produce attention-getting eblasts. Contact me.

All eblasts are one-page wonders. They need to be interesting, informative, pack a good incentive, yet be concise and made to be seen in a variety of email applications. Sometimes I assist with the incentive and the copywriting to improve clarity and response rates.

The above art was provided to me as a single .jpg and I converted it to HTML and multiple images. I added variable fields for personalization before posting it to the online email service.

If you click on the image you will see a more complex eblast I designed and produced for this same company.

We have tremendous respect for Jim's abilities and he is always prepared to deliver highly professional work. Our publication artwork done by Jim is highly creative and helps set Strem Chemicals apart in our field. Each publication is very different from the last, and needs to stand out on its own. Jim is tops at interpreting complex abstract ideas into stunning graphics. Jim's our guy.

Mike Strem, Founder, President and CEO, Strem Chemicals, Inc.

Jim's NOT your average, everyday creative type. He is a mentor and teacher. He not only practices his trade exceptionally well, he is always ready to answer the questions 'why' and 'how' with a high degree of detail that is articulated in a way that makes me feel like an expert at the end of the day. Jim's been my go-to-person since the first conversation we had more than 10 years ago. He's a true partner and has been there to help me navigate the toughest client requests. I recommend working with Jim to junior and senior-level marketers alike.

Michelle Tempesta, Marketing Director, Paytronix

I knew Jim by reputation, and knew that he would provide top notch creative work. Now having worked with him, I appreciate how much Jim works to ensure the success of every assignment. If we ask Jim for an ad, he gives us a campaign. If we ask for a direct mail piece, he gives us the piece, and suggestions for the best list. If we ask for a website, he gives us the site and the best way to evaluate the metrics. Jim consistently outperforms our expectations.

Linda Riley, Linda Riley Media Services

Jim charges a better than fair price. Certainly there may be designers who might work for less, but none can compare with the value Jim provides. ...quality across the board. He understands my business and has offered valuable insight to help make it better. Web site, product sheets, show graphics, POP and packaging ...great stuff.

Len Lamanuzzi, CEO, Polar Seafood Co.

Over the past eight years, my firm has worked in partnership with Jim Grenier to fulfill many of our clients' demand for sophisticated logos, graphic design and high-end flash animations. His work is always extremely creative, out-of-the-box and delivered on-time. Jim is very dependable and easy to work with; we highly recommend his services.

Laura Schweizer, President, Royal Web Design

From logos to labels and from Web site to onsite signage, Jim is our guy. He seems to just KNOW what we want and need and gets it done right the first time. He has the uncanny ability to zero in on a quick and simple solution. If he had a fan club I'd have to be its president.

Karen Cook, Owner, Cider Hill Farm

Jim is an exacting artist in all aspects of his life. In his free time, for fun, he made a Weissenborn-style hollowneck slide guitar out of koa wood. Most recently, he restored an award-winning 1965 gaff-rigged, 21' wooden Cape Cod catboat named "Rosebud." With Jim at the helm in his studio, he painstakingly measures twice -- cuts once, and renders beautifully handcrafted graphic arts.

Chris Velletri, President, Market Street Lists

All of us get ideas we think might work, but Jim can take those ideas, tweak them, twist them or edit them until something really good actually comes out of them. He's valuable in our brainstorm sessions. He never discourages any ideas and always finds a way to improve upon them. Very reliable, very skilled and very easy to work with.

Cathleen Alaimo, Marketing Director, ONI Division, GE Healthcare MR

Jim's "Can Do" approach on all sizes and types of projects has been invaluable to ONI. He makes himself available during the most unbelievable time crunches and repeatedly produces high quality creative materials.

Barbara J. Cross, ONI International Business Manager

I'm retired now, but my relationship with (Jim and company) over about 15 years was the best professional relationship I've ever had over my long career in marketing. I could trust them for everything including creative ideas, perfect execution, fair pricing and flexibility when I needed it.

Mead Sommers, former President, Sommers Marketing

Our organization, Journeyman Basketball is all about teaching teamwork, skills, responsibility and work ethic. All of which sum up Jim. When we needed a fitting web site Jim figured it all out, then built it. It has more features than many pro and college basketball sites and it is extremely popular with the athletes and the parents. Most importantly we can edit it ourselves, add game stats, post community announcements and more. I doubt Journeyman would be half as successful without Jim's contributions.

J P Sanborn Founder and President, Journeyman Basketball

After disasters with two other so-called Web developers, Jim approached my eCommerce problem in a fresh way, then he delivered a custom eCommerce solution exactly the way I had envisioned it. And at a reasonable cost. He was always helpful, detailed and professional.

Robert Marshall, Owner Autumnlight; Owner, Kidquest

I consider Jim to be the oracle of knowledge when it comes to anything relating to computer graphics. My "go to" resource for anything technical. Jim, through his patience and instruction, brought me to a comfortable level with computer graphics software. He designed two websites for me, which bring a stream of compliments. Then to top it off, he provided me with the confidence to explore the world of Internet commerce for my artwork.

Rob Brun, Fine Artist

Smart, resourceful and creative, three words that only begin to describe Jim Grenier. Not only is he highly skilled in print and web design, but he has also been a tremendous resource for marketing, illustration and software applications. We consider him to be the secret weapon in our agency.

Ray Shaw, President, Shaw Advertising

Jim's the real deal. I trust his judgement and his creativity. He helped my company re-brand and reposition itself. And he is a great advocate for my company and myself. Quick with ideas and quicker in getting them done. Great follow-through and he's never missed a deadline. An asset in every situation.

Peter Pellerito, CEO, Imacor, Inc.

A completely unique designer. Whether your business is big or small, your needs complex or simple, you will not find a more attentive concept and design person. In the 25 years I've worked with Jim, I've found him providing me with the same level of top-rate work as he does his much larger customers. I have sent Jim some rather crude ideas and received back polished and shining: headlines, copy and art. Jim has the ability to know what I want and need better than I do myself.

Paul Sanderson, CEO, Inventronics Incorporated

We're farmers. So we work on slim budgets. But we also need to look professional. Jim helps us balance these two things. Recently we needed a lot of exterior signage so Jim walked the site with us, made great suggestions then designed and resourced a system of signs. Traffic flow improved, customers found things more easily and crop damage was lessened. He is at once both creative and practical, right-brained and left-brained.

Glen Cook, Owner, Cider Hill Farm

You've read what some of my customers have said about working with me. Now let me show you how much I can do for you. I'm sure you'll be as wildly happy as all the others. It doesn't matter if you are a large corporation or a small start-up, you'll find me easy to work with, responsive, innovative and knowledgeable; plus I have a great sense of humor. Contact me now and let's get started